The early 1950's saw the sport of boxing develop into one of the most popular spectator sports in America. The medium of television provided the opportunity for fans to tune in each week, to watch the best fighters in the world battle on Gillette s Friday Night Fights. This decade so rich in culture was the backdrop for creating some of the most legendary champions of all time. Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Galivan, Jake LaMotta, Gene Fullmer, and a tough guy from Canastota, New York, Carmen Basilo.
On September 23, 1957, Carmen Basilo defeated Sugar Ray Robinson to win the...